Adjustable counter for strap sandals



June 23, 1953 M. M. YATES ADJUSTABLE COUNTER FOR STRAP SANDALS Filed April 19, 1951 INVENTOR,

ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 23, 1953 OFFICE ADJUSTABLE COUNTER FOR STRAP SANDALS Maurice M. Yates, Greeneville, Tenn.

Application April 19, 1951, Serial No. 221,877

1 Claim.

This invention relates to sandal construction and more particularly to sandals designed for barefoot wear, the important object of the invention being to provide a sandal wherein a counter member is secured inposition in such a way that the counter member may be readily adjusted with respect to the sole to conform to the curvature of the foot adjacent to the sole of the sandal, for the comfort of the wearer, and at the same time eliminating abrupt bending of the counter member at the point of contact with the sandal, to the end that premature breakage of the counter member is prevented.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a counter member which is secured to the sole of the sandal in such a way that it may be adjusted readily, adapting the counter member for close fitting against the heel of the foot.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the inventinon consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sandal constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the sandal with a portion of the insole cut away illustrating the cushioning member of the sandal.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the sandal.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view at the heel of the sandal.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 indicates the main or outer sole of the sandal, which may be constructed of any desirable material, preferably leather, to which the heel 6 is secured. The upper surface of the sole is supplied with a thin layer of cushioning material such as sponge rubber 8, having a cutout portion 9 extending transversely thereof and terminating at points adjacent to the side edges of the sole. Spaced an appreciable distance from the cut-out portion 9 is the cut-out portion Ii) which also extends transversely of the sole. The cushioning material is formed with the wide cutout portion H at the heel portion of the sole and provides a groove in which the counter member I2 is slidably held.

The insole is indicated by the reference char- 2 acter l3 and is shaped to conform to the shape of the sole 5, the insole having strap openings it and 15 arranged adjacent to the edges of the insole at the ball portion of the insole, the strap I openings at the inner edges of the sole being inclined slightly inwardly. Spaced from the openings I4 and 15 are openings it which are also arranged adjacent to the side edges of the insole adjacent to the ends of the cut-out portion Ii, so that the counter member I2 may extend upwardly therethrough.

At the toe portion of the sandal is the strap ll, that extends through the openings l4 and it and passes under the insole, the strap lying in the space formed by the cut-out portions 9 and I0, said strap ll also extending through the openings l4 and Hi to be tightened over the instep of the foot holding the sandal in place.

The counter member :2 is provided with rear- Wardly extended strap sections is and I9, the strap section I8 having the buckle 20 connected thereto, while the strap 2| which connects with the strap section l9 cooperates with the buckle in drawing the counter member around the heel of a persons foot, thereby to adjust the counter member for a perfect fit around the heel.

The strap 22 has one of'its ends secured to the counter member at the front thereof, and is adapted to be secured over the instep of the foot by its connection with the buckle 23 secured at the opposite front edge of the counter member i2.

The sole of the sandal is braced by means of the steel spring member 24 which extends from a point adjacent to the heel of the sandal, to a point adjacent to the ball portion of the sole of the sandal.

Since the straps which secure the sandal to the foot of the wearer extend upwardly through openings formed in the upper surface of the insole adjacent to the edges of the sandal, it will be seen that the straps will conform to the shape of the foot and contact the foot throughout the lengths of the straps, providing an exceptionally comfortable securing means for the sandal.

It will be further pointed out that due to this construction abrupt bending of the straps at their points of connection with the sandal sole, which is frequently the cause of premature breaking of the sandal straps, is eliminated.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

In a sandal, an outsole and an insole secured to said outsole, the insole having elongated counter openings formed adjacent to the side edges of the heel portion thereof, said openings ex- 3 tending from substantially the heel breast line rearwardly to substantially the center of said heel portion, a counter member slidably mounted between the outsole and insole and having upstanding side portions and being continuous from one of said side portions through an opening in said insole, then through a second opening in said insole to the other side portion, and said counter member being wide throughout that portion of its length that extends between said insole and outsole and its upwardly extending sides.

MAURICE M. YATES.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name 7 Date Topoozian Sept. 13, 1932 Smith Oct. 14, 1941 Weinstat Sept. 29, 1942 Ballenger Oct. 12, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Switzerland Dec. 1, 1925 Great Britain Jan. 8, 1940 Great Britain July 1, 1949 France Apr. 8, 1930 France Dec. 12, 1933 

